"At the end of the 2013 season, we made it our No. 1 priority to identify and acquire a proven, winning starting quarterback," Oakland offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "It became obvious early on ... that Matt Schaub was a player that would meet that role."

The move is the latest in an attempt by general manager Reggie McKenzie to win now and bridge the gap so that last year's and this year's draft picks are the centerpieces in the future. Nine of the 10 players the Raiders have signed this month are at least 29 years old, but their contracts are easy to get away from after the 2014 season if need be.

Schaub, 32, threw 10 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season, including an interception returned for a touchdown in a league-record four straight games. During the previous six years, his completion percentage of 65.1 ranked seventh among qualified starters, and he threw 114 touchdowns and 64 interceptions.

Schaub talked about the importance of playing for a new team at Friday afternoon's news conference.

"A fresh start can do a lot of things for a player," he said. "Last year didn't go as I had planned, and I am excited about the opportunity here and the players on this team."

Schaub's base salary next year is $10.9 million (with a $14.5 million salary-cap hit because of roster bonuses). The Raiders will take the financial hit because they have plenty of salary-cap room.

Schaub became expendable when the Texans signed former Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to a two-year deal Thursday night.

Raiders head coach Dennis Allen, Olson and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo have been on a nationwide tour of college pro days, seeing if there was a quarterback worthy of the team's No. 5 overall pick in the draft. This week alone, they have traveled to see Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles and Derek Carr. It is safe to say that they are not in love with any of them.

What does the trade for Schaub mean for Matt McGloin, who started six games last season?

The Raiders like McGloin a lot as a second-string quarterback. They used the "McGloin bar" to evaluate quarterbacks in free agency and the draft, team sources said, because they wanted someone better to start next season. Terrelle Pryor and Trent Edwards are the other quarterbacks on the roster.

McKenzie does not have a good track record with quarterbacks in his two years in Oakland.

He traded Carson Palmer last spring after failed attempts to restructure his contract and traded for Matt Flynn, who lost his starting job to Pryor in the preseason. McKenzie also drafted former Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson in the fourth round last year, and the Raiders cut him, making Wilson the highest pick in the 2013 draft to be cut.

Flynn lost his confidence last year, and that is a concern with Schaub as well.

After leading the Texans to AFC South titles in 2011 and 2012, Schaub struggled last season and was benched for rookie Case Keenum.

He regained the starting job in late December, but Houston ended on a 14-game losing streak.

Schaub is already a part of Raiders history. He threw the game-ending interception to Michael Huff in Oakland's emotional 25-20 win in Houston on Oct. 9, 2011, the day after long-time owner Al Davis died.

Earlier Friday, Oakland announced the re-signing of safety Charles Woodson to a one-year contract.

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Schaub by the numbers

Matt Schaub (right, with offensive coordinator Greg Olson), spent three seasons as a backup in Atlanta - which selected him in the third round of the 2004 draft - before getting traded to Houston and becoming the Texans' starter in 2007.

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